Public Art – Arch on Old Falls Street – Niagara Falls, New York
This is the "Arch on Old Falls Street" public art installation was conceptualized, designed, and engineered by Jesse Walp, a local Buffalo artist and associate professor of interior design at Villa Maria College. Standing 26 feet tall and 14 feet wide, the towering aluminum structure mimics the rushing and splashing...
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Potter Street – Saginaw, Michigan
The brick building visible at the far right of the block is the historic, long-abandoned State Theatre located at 614 Potter Street. This neighborhood was once a bustling commercial hub centered around the nearby Saginaw Timber Station and Potter Street Station. Opened on February 15, 1927, as a neighborhood cinema...
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Downtown – Midland, Michigan (2018)
Heading into Midland, Live Oak Coffee House proudly displayed the outline of an oak in black and white against a landscape full of vibrant and colorful colors. Once downtown, the landscaping caught us right away. An effort was clearly made to utilize native plants and grasses. The Midland Visitor Center...
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Garden – Pollinator Habitat Garden – Traverse City, Michigan
Smart to the Pollinator Habitat Garden!Plants BUZZ to life with bees and other beneficial insects demonstrating which types they prefer. By suppling nectar and pollen on a wide variety of plants that bloom throughout the season, this garden provides ideas for which to choose for your own garden. A pollinator...
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Downtown – Suttons Bay, Michigan
St. Joseph Street (the main thoroughfare) in downtown Suttons Bay, Michigan, looking down the street. The wooden storefront on the immediate right houses the popular Bay Burrito Company. Located directly adjacent to the burrito shop, marked by its distinct sign hanging under the eave is Roth Shirt Co. The famous...
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Pallet Chair Build – Albion, Michigan
We have built dozens of chairs out of shipping pallets in various towns we've visited. Here is a step-by-step description of the process as we recently experienced while in Albion, Michigan. 1. Be prepared to cut a pallet to dimensions on site or do so in advance to save time...
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Downtown – Albion, Michigan (2018)
When we visited Albion it was a considerable surprise to see Superior Street being repaved. The last time this was done in the 1990s it was a novelty and at considerable expense, because few if any other state highways were paved in brick. We took a look at the buildings...
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Historic Art District and Parklet – Akron, Ohio
Apex Historic District Management has led the successful revitalization of the Main/Market Historic District in Akron, Ohio. Their activities date back to 1996. Tony Troppe and the Everett Group/Historic District Management Company have successfully revitalized a number of buildings utilizing historic preservation tax credits as a tool to spur development. The...
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Downtown – Akron, Ohio
We've heard many good things about Akron through the years. Upon a recent visit it was inspiring to see how much has been done to make their downtown a beautiful well-designed space. Some of the placemaking ideas we observed are detailed below. Custom Designed Cast-Concrete Planters These one-of-a-kind planters are...
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Akron Public Library and The Curated Storefront – Akron, Ohio
Akron is miles ahead of most places when it comes to making technology for makers easily available for its residents, library users, and businesses. The Akron Public Library in the center of downtown is handsomely outfitted with a whole suite of equipment to help with making vinyl banners, 3d printing,...
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Fifth Ave Tower Plaza – New York City, New York
This plaza was built with the following amenities: one litter receptacle, four planters, 113 linear feet of seating and 40 movable chairs, four trees within plaza, seven trees on street, a fountain with a lattice screen along eastern and northern walls, a bubbler fountain along colonnade, and a colonnade.
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Skyscraper! Achievement & Impact, Liberty Science Center – Jersey City, New Jersey
Recently we had the pleasure to visit the Skyscraper! exhibition at the Liberty Science Center in Jersey City, New Jersey. A few key excerpts from the exhibit follow. What is a skyscraper? Tall buildings are forged from human aspiration, science and engineering. They change peoples' perceptions of their world and are...
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Metropolitan Museum of Art – New York, New York
Visual projection in the entrance hall promoting membership at The Met. Member names scroll as a way to show appreciation. Outside of The Met, these stylish umbrellas create a shaded oasis and protection from the sun. This activates the Fifth Avenue frontage making the sidewalk a destination onto itself.
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Downtown – Westfield, New Jersey
"West Fields" was settled in 1720 and incorporated in 1794. The Rialto Theater is among a rarer and rarer breed of operating downtown movie theaters. Spice Bazaar offers casual Indian dining from their sizable storefront. Some outdoor dining is provided on the sidewalk. Juxtapose Gallery Framing and Design has artistically...
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Downtown – Highland Park, New Jersey
Highland Park, located in Middlesex County, is a community with a design forward feeling - especially when it comes to public spaces. This playful public art project fills an otherwise blank wall. The colorful figures bring a sense of excitement and energy to the downtown. No detail is too small...
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Visit to Sebastian, Florida
Captain Hiram's is one of the most visited locations in Sebastian. It has a waterfront location that is greatly enhanced through the quirky murals on the wall. Upon arriving one is greeted by a stylized modern undersea or aquarium vibe. Pictures are painted as if they are hung on the...
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Lyric Theater – Stuart, Florida (2018)
Twisted column Spanish tile or mission tile with board providing shouldering in place of mortar. Soffit with open boarding to allow ventilation of roof above. Proscenium arch and proscenium wall. Ghost light on stage. Rinceau raised relief on proscenium arch. Arabesque in bay on side...
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Legoland – Winter Haven, Florida (2018)
The "coffee shop" at Legoland sets the tone. There is whimsy with a coffee and two Lego figures adding a sugar cube and stirring a spoon. Everything detail has a blocky feel and refers back to the Lego brand. A vast outdoor area is filled with structures built from Lego...
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Agora, High Line – New York City, New York
This series of nine artist installations along the High Line reflect on immigration, identity, and home. The exhibition runs April 2018 to March 2019. These pieces represent a valued addition to the ever-expanding public art program along the High Line. One might go so far as to interpret the High...
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Visit to New York City, New York (July 2018)
Upon arriving in New York City by train one of the first sights was the old Post Office Building that was being converted for use as a LIRR Station. American Whiskey has a small storefront. The entrance is flanked by Whiskey Barrels and other planters. The blade sign helps to...
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